Dipsacus fullonum

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

Dipsacus fullonum
    n 1: teasel with lilac flowers native to Old World but
         naturalized in North America; dried flower heads used to
         raise a nap on woolen cloth [syn: {common teasel},
         {Dipsacus fullonum}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Fuller \Full"er\, n. [AS. fullere, fr. L. fullo. See {Full}, v.
   t.]
   One whose occupation is to full cloth.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Fuller's earth}, a variety of clay, used in scouring and
      cleansing cloth, to imbibe grease.

   {Fuller's herb} (Bot.), the soapwort ({Saponaria
      officinalis}), formerly used to remove stains from cloth.
      

   {Fuller's thistle} or {Fuller's weed} (Bot.), the teasel
      ({Dipsacus fullonum}) whose burs are used by fullers in
      dressing cloth. See {Teasel}.
      [1913 Webster]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Teasel \Tea"sel\, n. [OE. tesel, AS. t[=ae]sel, t[=ae]sl, the
   fuller's herb. See {Tease}.] [Written also {tassel}, {tazel},
   {teasle}, {teazel}, and {teazle}.]
   1. (Bot.) A plant of the genus {Dipsacus}, of which one
      species ({Dipsacus fullonum}) bears a large flower head
      covered with stiff, prickly, hooked bracts. This flower
      head, when dried, is used for raising a nap on woolen
      cloth.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: Small teasel is {Dipsacus pilosus}, wild teasel is
         {Dipsacus sylvestris}.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. A bur of this plant.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Any contrivance intended as a substitute for teasels in
      dressing cloth.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Teasel frame}, a frame or set of iron bars in which teasel
      heads are fixed for raising the nap on woolen cloth.
      [1913 Webster]